How to Take the Metro in Paris: Practical Guide

How to Travel by Metro in Paris: Step-by-Step Guide

• Plan your route by identifying transfers and the terminus of each line you will take.
• Purchase a ticket: a paper ticket, a virtual ticket loaded onto your smartphone, or a Navigo pass.
• Validate your ticket to pass through the turnstile.
• Head to the departure platform by following the directional signs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Paris Metro

This practical guide to the Paris Metro walks you through exactly how to use the Metro or RER in Paris — from choosing the right ticket to finding which lines to take for your destination, and navigating your way through the maze of corridors underground.

Before you can ride the Paris Metro, you’ll need a valid ticket or pass. Several options are available, and the best choice depends on whether you travel occasionally or on a regular basis.

How and Where to Buy a Metro Ticket

For occasional travel, you can buy a single t+ ticket or, if you live or work in the Île-de-France region, sign up for the Navigo Liberté+ service.

The t+ Ticket

The t+ ticket is available in two formats:

• Paper ticket: The classic Metro ticket, sold for €2.10 each. Note: Paper tickets are being phased out during 2022 and will no longer be sold at ticket counters, vending machines, or authorized RATP retailers.
• Contactless, reloadable ticket on a Navigo Easy pass or your smartphone: This is replacing the paper version. You’ll need to buy a Navigo Easy pass (€2) or install an app on your phone first. Many users find the Navigo Easy pass more convenient and secure, as it avoids taking your phone out when passing through the gates. Both the pass and your phone can be reloaded at will with single tickets (€2.10 each) or 10-ticket booklets (€16.90).

The t+ ticket is valid on all Metro lines, RER lines within Paris (zone 1), most Île-de-France buses (except Orlybus and Roissybus), trams, and the Montmartre funicular.

The Navigo Liberté+ Service

For people who live or work in the Île-de-France region or who travel regularly to Paris, there’s a more flexible option: the Navigo Liberté+ service. With a free subscription and a personalized Navigo pass (showing your name, surname, and photo), you can travel on the entire Paris Metro network, the RER in zone 1, buses under agreement with the Île-de-France Transport Authority, the OrlyBus and RoissyBus airport shuttles, tram and Tzen lines, the Montmartre funicular, and even long-distance fare buses. All your journeys are billed automatically the following month, at just €1.69 per trip.

Planning Your Route

Once you have your ticket, if you’re unsure which Metro lines to take to reach your destination, simply enter your departure station in the ‘From’ field and your destination (Metro station, museum, school, landmark, concert hall, etc.) in the ‘To’ field on this tool, then click ‘Calculate Route’. The app will tell you which line(s) to take, in which direction, where you may need to change lines (known as a transfer), and at which station to get off.

Paris Metro lines

Let’s Go!

Armed with these detailed instructions, head to your departure station. Using your ticket or pass, you can pass through the turnstiles. If you have a paper ticket, insert it into the slot on the right-hand side of the gate, then collect it from the top once it comes out. If your ticket is loaded onto a smartphone or a Navigo pass, simply tap it on the right-hand pillar where you see the (usually purple) logo. If you’re unsure, just watch how other passengers do it!

Next, simply follow the directional signs to find the correct corridor leading to your Metro line in the right direction. The direction is indicated by the name of the terminus — the final station where that train is headed.

If your journey includes a transfer, you’ll need to change trains when you arrive at the transfer station to connect to another line. Don’t worry — everything is clearly marked on the platforms. Just look for the number of the line you need and the name of its terminus, then follow the signs to stay on track.